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View Of marriage
View of marriage
In this novel Jane Austen explains that during early 1800’s marriage is considered to be the only way, for women in particular, to live a comfortable life and free from financial worries. However, if women fail to marry, one of their only other options would be to become a governess, completely under control of their employer for the rest of their lives. This is why marriage is so significant for people of a lower social or economic status. Despite whether they love their marriage partner, if they possess enough fortune to secure their future happiness, then it would be in their best interest to accept the proposal. But Austen believed that marriage should be only for love and affection, not for wealth and greed. Austen uses the characters to show the positioning between relationships of those who have married for love, like Elizabeth and Darcy, and relationships of those who have married for fortune, such as Charlotte.
Jane Austen show marriage was extremely sensible and common to take a prospective partner’s financial situation and status through Charlotte and Mr. Collins. Because when Charlotte Lucas marries Mr. Collins, they do not love each other, but it suits them both to marry.Charlottesays “I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home,” (p122) admitting she only wanted a husband who could financially support her and Mr. Collinsis looking for a suitable young wife.Charlotte has the same idea as Mrs. Bennet; Elizabeth’s mother is not concerned about Elizabeth feeling when Mr. Collins asks Elizabeth to marry him, because if Mr. Bennet dies they will be left with nothing, because all their property will go to Mr. Collins. Mrs. Bennet also wants to get her daughters married because if they don’t then they will have nowhere to live. However, Elizabeth is unwillingly agreed to marrying Mr. Collins because her views on marriage are that it is about happiness and love rather than social status and wealth. Jane Austen
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